Why are youth homeless?
Youth are homeless for a variety of reasons. Each young person’s story is unique. However, there are some patterns in the pathways to youth homelessness. Here are some of the potential pathways into homelessness for young people: 1. Family Conflict and Abuse Family conflict (including abuse) is the leading cause of youth homelessness. This includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse. A Toronto study found that “more than 70 percent of young people leave home for the streets because of physical and/or sexual abuse”1. 2. Lack of Daily Living Skills Inability to budget, to maintain a clean, safe living space and to make good choices about daily issues can lead to homelessness. Youth might have difficulty maintaining housing once attained. 3. Pregnancy and Parenting Becoming pregnant and parenting at a young age can be a potential pathway to homelessness. Disruption of education and employment, the need to find new housing and poverty can all contribute to this risk. 4.
Youth are homeless for a variety of reasons. Each young person’s story is unique. However, there are some patterns in the pathways to youth homelessness. Here are some of the potential pathways into homelessness for young people: 1. Family Conflict and Abuse Family conflict (including abuse) is the leading cause of youth homelessness. This includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse. A Toronto study found that “more than 70 percent of young people leave home for the streets because of physical and/or sexual abuse”1. 2. Lack of Daily Living Skills Inability to budget, to maintain a clean, safe living space and to make good choices about daily issues can lead to homelessness. Youth might have difficulty maintaining housing once attained. 3. Pregnancy and Parenting Becoming pregnant and parenting at a young age can be a potential pathway to homelessness. Disruption of education and employment, the need to find new housing and poverty can all contribute to this risk. 4. Poverty While you
